Matt Connors

I am grateful to join the Peyton Walker Foundation as a Heart Hero. I have known the Walker family for many years through the Trinity family, and supporting this mission feels both personal and deeply meaningful to me.

As a high school football coach, I see firsthand the responsibility coaches carry, not just to develop athletes, but to protect them. Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the leading cause of death in student athletes during sports participation, and it often happens without warning. That reality has reinforced my belief that every coach should know the signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest and be prepared to act immediately when seconds matter most.

My commitment to this cause is also shaped by personal experience. My father survived a cardiac arrest, and I am grateful every day for that second chance. I have also experienced the heartbreak of loss, including the passing of a dear friend, Robb Hanrahan, to cardiac arrest. At the same time, I have seen the power of preparedness through survival, one of my close friends, John Hrinda, is alive today because good CPR and AED were present and used to save him. 

These experiences have strengthened my belief that everyone should know CPR and how to use an AED. Cardiac emergencies don’t just happen in hospitals; they happen on athletic fields, in schools, at work, and at home. When ordinary people are trained and prepared, they can do extraordinary things and save lives.

Becoming a Heart Hero is my way of honoring those we’ve lost, supporting survivors, and helping create safer environments for student athletes and our communities. I am proud to stand with the Peyton Walker Foundation in its mission of checking hearts, protecting hearts, and saving lives.